Small team environment which means you have great opportunities to cross train in areas you wouldn't have access to in larger organizations. Opportunity to work with extremely smart people who are dedicated to their role, responsibilities and the company in general.

Cons

Because teams are so small there are significant barriers when trying to implement anything. Also any expertise you bring to the table will be dismissed or tuned out, however if ANY outside entity states or suggests the exact same thing management will take it seriously.

Advice to Management

Management should support innovation and employees continuous learning. Give people room to grow and a clear career path instead of micromanaging them and becoming bottlenecks to process.

The company presents a wonderful atmosphere in meetings with corporate and the CEO. They also try to take care of their customers and provide many tools and supporting staff to do so. They have been flexible at times when employees have needed special accommodations. There is potential for success and making good money, but only if you are willing to work very hard for it.

Cons

The wonder atmosphere is almost completely absent at the store level and that usually starts with district and store management. Taking care of the customer often comes at the expense of the employees and their paychecks. While it is understood that employees in retail need to be present during major holidays, the other corporate departments that support the stores often have that time off and are unavailable when needed most. At least a 3rd of the year is blacked out from taking vacations including June and July when families and their children are able to actually spend more time together. There is little room for negotiation on this matter as well. Many employees are underpaid and under appreciated (in relation to their responsibilities) which shows why at times there is a high turn over rate, especially among hourly employees.

Advice to Management

Recognize better those employees that have put in a hard days work on a consistent basis and for hourly employees reflect that in their pay. Find a way to better bring the positive message and atmosphere that echos around corporate to the showroom level, and ease off on constantly beating up those that bring in the company's profits about their lack of numbers.

I have been working at P.C. Richard & Son full-time (More than 10 years)

Recommends

Positive Outlook

No opinion of CEO

Recommends

Positive Outlook

No opinion of CEO

Pros

Flexibility fun exciting camaraderie new products meet people get in loop not get in loop of things intrigues make own income hone skills selling training

Cons

Long hours during holidays crappy bosses irate customers co workers stealing your sales and customers mgt only concern for company not long term benefits for employees working for company for long time short sighted goals etc